The best articles on Web Hosting, Website Design, Site Promotion, Search Engine Optimization, Affiliate Programs, and other subject of interest to Webmasters -- selected by the Cheap Web Hosting Report staff

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Monday, July 27, 2009

Choosing Your Autoresponder Software

by Otello Zorina

It can be a somewhat difficult and time consuming task to find the right autoresponder. There are a lot of choices available on the Internet, each one ranging in price and features. Before you decide to purchase your own autoresponder, you should first think about your budget as well as your requirements. This way, you'll know what you want and how much you are willing to spend.

First, you'll need to decide the features you want. Next, you'll need to take a look at some of the different types of autoresponders available on the market. You'll also need to decide which type is right for you, and which brand name you think would work the best. You can answer these questions by comparing different brands, prices, features, and licensing restrictions.

For a business, autoresponders can be great. As most of us already know, autoresponders are programs that will send out an automated response via email to a specified address. In most cases, the response you get back from an email autoresponder is short and sweet, normally letting you know that someone is on vacation, away from their computer, or that they have received your message.

The only real problem to autoresponders is the fact that they will replay to any email that they receive. If you are subscribed to a mailing list and used your autoresponder address to sign up, it can easily create a problem. Anytime someone sends you an email to your responder address it will send an automated reply. It can also lack important features that you need to follow up on your clients or subscribers as well.

For the Internet marketing guru, there are sequential autoresponders. These types of autoresponders are designed to collect different email addresses then send out a variety of pre determined messages through email to subscribers that you have on your list. If you have a sequential autoresponder and use it correctly, it can help you bring back more visitors. It can be a very handy tool to have around, especially if you work with a lot of clients. It can help you keep track of subscribers, as well as keep them informed about what is going on with your business.

All across the Internet there are many types of autoresponders. They range from web based programs to scripts or programs that run through your computer or personal server. An autoresponder will be a major part of your online business, which is why you should always put forth the time and effort to find the best one for your money. If you put the proper research and time into finding your ideal autoresponder, you'll save yourself a lot of time and headache in the long run.

Basically, there are three main types of autoresponders that you can choose from - remote hosted, locally hosted, and desktop hosted. Remote hosted are hosted on someones server or website. Locally hosted will allow you to work programs for your own web server. Desktop programs on the other hand, will allow you to work from your own computer. Most people choose to go with locally hosted, as it makes things a lot easier.

Before you decide on which type of autoresponder to purchase, you should make sure that you understand what each type will offer you. There are a variety of autoresponders to choose from, meaning that some may not offer what you need. You can always research each type, and then compare prices and features. This way, you'll know which type of autoresponder will work the best for your needs as well as your business.

About This Library

Article sites are flooded with articles on Web Design and Search Engine Optimization (i.e. ways to get your site to show up high in the important search engines). Sometimes dozens of new articles are added every week. Most are not worth the effort it takes to read them. A few, however, are truly interesting and useful.

For this blog, the Cheap Web Hosting Report staff will post the best web design and search engine optimization articles we find on articles sites. We'll try our best to separate the small amount of meat from the piles of bone and gristle.